LaidOffCamp is a day-long networking event for unemployed and nontraditionally employed people (including freelancers, entrepreneurs and startups) in San Francisco who want to share ideas and learn from each other. At LaidOffCamp, attendees will discuss topics in sessions that may include: living on an extreme budget, building your personal brand, how to be a freelance consultant and more. The first LaidOffCamp will occur on March 3rd, 2009 in San Francisco, CA. Expected attendance at LaidOffCamp San Francisco is 300-400 people.

IMPORTANT: Sponsors are not limited to contributing the specific amounts for the items listed below. You can contribute any amount you feel is appropriate (e.g.: you could be a sponsor of LaidOffCamp for as little as $50 or a $100) and all sponsors will be treated equally, no matter the size of their contribution. Additionally, sponsors are welcome to make in-kind donations by directly purchasing items on our budget or even contributing items that aren't already on our budget.

Purchase a sponsorship at http://laidoffcamp.eventbrite.com/ or email sf-sponsors@laidoffcamp.com for more info.

Sponsorships are necessary to cover the following:

Venue Security: ~$660
Breakfast: ~$250
Coffee / Tea: ~$80
Napkins / Plates / Cups: ~$100
Lunch: ~$2000
Drinks for the day: ~$150
Snacks for the day: ~$200
Misc. Office Supplies: ~$50
Chairs: ~$400
Stickers: ~$100
Anything else that you'd like to pitch in

Benefits:

As a sponsor, you'll have your name listed on the event wiki, on flyers around the event, and we'll thank you during and at the end of the conference.
If you attend the event, you'll have the opportunity set up a table during lunch to showcase your products and meet / network with attendees
You'll have your company's name associated with a great organization, and earn the goodwill and attention of 300-400 unemployed/self-employed people in attendance, and countless others scattered across the country via the wiki. And all for just a few hundred bucks!

Recent sponsors:

Recent Press:

TechCrunch
Interview with Mac OS Ken (Listen Here)
Yahoo! News
New America Media
CBS 5 (KPIX)
SF Chronicle (pictures of front page coverage of the print edition)

Two things I want to make sure to stress:

We don't expect a shortage of interest. Please don't consider sponsoring LaidOffCamp San Francisco if you're seeking a mailing list, it won't be available. All communications will be handled by the organizers.
If I had to choose between you attending the event and you sponsoring the event, I'd much rather you attended.

SanFranciscoSponsorLetter